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and sewers the carosses of those which die of, plague and the fleas escaping from them will be carried away and will not spread plague among the human population ; (0) that cats occasionally contract plague, but he adds (d) that oat fleas do not transmit the diseman, so that it matters little even if a few cate do contraat plague. This question should be again and without undue delay brought before the Bani- tary Board in order to invite their opinion as to the advisability of instituting a period of general poisoning and the methods to be adopted to minimise danger. I am confident that, should the Board concur in the views I have expressed, the Chinese members and the Registrar General will do their utmost to obtain the hearty co-operation of the Chinese of all classes in the scheme decided on and that the Tang Wa Hospital will assist in every way in its power. Poisoning should be limited to a short period and the people should be warned and be especially exhorted not to throw away any soraps of food, sto., during that period in order that rats may be forced to eat the poiɛened bait.
Attached to the minute were reports on rat destruction which Mr. Messer had summarised from various medical journals.
Colonel REID minated-The distribution of posion such as phosphorous (the effects of which on the human system may not be immediately apparent) in quantities sufficient to make appreciable reduction in the number of rats will require the greatest care and the constant supervision of each house treated.
Ал
Mr. HOOPHB-I am in favour of trying the experiment this winter, but the greatest care
lost.
THE HONGKONG WEAKLY PRASS AND
fortnight to send round and ask people to give up what they had left of the poison.
The PRESIDENT—The idea is to distribute it just before the Chinese new year so that it will all be removed in the general olamning up which takes place ther.
Mr. HOOPER-I think the Chinese should have their attention called to the dangerous nature of the poison.
The PRESIDENT-Certainly, but we must not go too far or else they will throw the pellets away.
Mr HOOPER Their attention should be called so that they may not think they have a new article of diet.
|
The PRESIDENT-I don't think the Chinese are fools.
The VICE PRESIDENT-I think we must place some reliance on the common sense of the people when they are told that the poison is distributed for the purpose of destroying rata.
The PRESIDENT –I move that the Sanitary Board deem it advisable that a general poisoning should take place, and that the period by some- time before the Chinese new year so that the general cleaning up can follow. I think we can rely on this department, on the Registrar. General and on the Chinese to assist us.
The motion was agreed to.
THE BOARDING HOUSE RUNNER.
"A STANDING NUISANCE.
must be exercised in the distribution of the poi-on Oct 13th, the watchman of the Hongkong Before Mr. J. B. Wood, at the Magistracy. son and in the collection and destruotion of the Canton and Maono Co's steamer Fatsban" house refuse where the poison may have been was summoned for assaulting a boarding house laid. Otherwise utensils in which food is pre-ranner. pared may get contaminated and human lives Defendant pleaded guilty, but stated that he had cause to sasanit the complainant as The REGISTRAR GENERAL-The poison boarding house runners were a great nuisance should be in doses not big enough to kill a child. and he was instructed by the captain to keep At the end of the poisoning period osre should them off the ship. be taken to collect the doses not eaten by rats or they will sooner or later get into children's mouths. The doses I have seen are just what a child naturally would put in its mouth.
*
Complainant told the Court he was a shop coolie in the Yik Sang boarding house, the morning of the 8th instant he went on On
board the L. “Fatshan luggage.
to look after some Defendant spoke to him in a language which witness did not understand and then struck him.
Defendant said he spoke in Chinese, and the complainant understood him perfectly. anything to say.
His Worship asked Captain Lloyd if he had
Mr. HOOPER-I think my minute indicates all i have to say, I am quite sure the Sanitary Department, which includes the Medical Officer of Health, will bear in mind the great danger to human life if this is promiscuously distri buted, more particularly with regard to refuse in which animals and possibly the Chinese in the lower parts of the town forage for food Captain Lloyd said these boarding house and thereby endanger their lives. I think we runners seemed to think they had the right to cau leave it to the Sanitary Department under take possession of the ship when they boarded the guidance of the Medical Officer of Health. her. It was entirely against the policy of the The PRESIDENT-It might be interesting to Company to use any violence at all to these you to know that in 1902-03, $2,981 were spent people, and the runners traded on it. They on rat poisoning, and from 1908 to 1907, $689.were a standing nuisance, and the one before All that poison has been used and we have not the Court was making the most of his case. had any accidents. I would also draw your His Worship imposed a nominal penalty of $2 attention to the fact that in the Punjab they the alternative being seven days' imprisonment. have used 32 tons of rat poisoning.
Mr. HOOPEB-For all Indis.
ALLEGED FORGED SIGNATURE.
The PRESIDENT-In the Punjab only. So far reports from India do not mention that any danger has occurred to children. Of course, they say precations must he taken.
At the Magistracy on Oct. 14th before Mr. J. If they used 32 tous in one year in the Punjab, R. Wood, Chuí Ohui Tong, a stevedore in I think we can safely use 400 lbs in Hongkong. the employ of Mesara Dodwell and Co., who The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I cannot help was arrested on a warrant by Detective Sergeant regarding the matter as a little bit serious. I Watt, was charged with obtaining sums amount- am anxious to do everything I can to furthering to $500 by signing aheques in the name the destruction of rats, but at the same time, of Mr. M. Smith of the firm mentioned. Defen- if there is a danger let us face it and see what steps we can take to provide against it.
The PRESIDENT-Certainly we want to face the danger, but, on the other hand, what is the amount of danger to the amount of good it may do.
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL—I am not oppos- ing the distribution of poison at all. The question I asked was whether one or more pellets was dangerous to a child, and what precaution would be taken to clear up these things after the period of poisoning had elapsed. I under- stood you to say, Mr. President, that the ides of this poisoning was to try to concentrate it as far as possible in a very short time so as to give the rat population a severe blow and afterwards to trust to kraps to keep the number down. It that is so, my suggestion is that some care should be taken after completion of the week or
absconded
dant, after obtaining this money, about a month ago, but returned within the last few days and was arrested on Tuesday evening.
His Worship said he wished to be satisfied on the point as to whether this action was taken with a view to prosecute the defendant as a forger, or with a view to gut him put in jail to recover a debt.
[October +7, 18OR,
CORRESPONDENOR.
THE BLIND HOME.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'DAILY PRESS,”]
DEAR SIR-Now that the subnoription for the Blind Home has been closed, it is my heart- felt desire to express my thanks, through the columns of your valuable paper, to all the Friends of our Home, who have so kindly remembered the Blind in their present need.
At the same time I beg to acknowledge with thanks the generous gift of $1,000 (one thou- sand dollars) handed to me by the Hon. Re- gistrar-General, Mr. E. A. Irving, on behalf of the Committee appointed to consider the distri- bution of the relief for the losses osused by the recent typhoon. As all the members of that Committee, except Mr. Irving, are Chinese, í do feel that this shows a kind appreciation on the part of the Chinese Community of the work done by our Home.
Thanking you very much for allowing me so much spac› in your paper,—1 am, Bir, Yours sincerely.
AGATHA VON SEELHORST. 12, Bogham Road, Ost, 12, 1908.
KULANGSU MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
Minutes of a meeting of the Council, held at the Board Room, on the 22nd September 1908.
Present:- -Momers. W. H. vallace (Chair-
Ofoer, and the Secretary. Krus, 8. Okayama, W. Wilson, the Health · mao), C. A. V. Bowra, J. & Fenwick, W.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.
NO MORE LIQUOR LIQENORS.
An application was reosived for a license for store, situated between the Chinese Post Office the premises formerly known as the Japanese and Whitfield's corner, for selling liquor on American the occasion of the visit to Amoy of the Fleet. The applicat WIS in- formed that the Council would not license any fresh premis for the sale of intoxicating liquor daring the visit of the Flest to Amoy.
A COMPLAINT.
A letter was read from the Commissioner of Customs complaining of the manner in which Mr. Lim Kai Siong is carrying on certain building operations near the Customs Property, Santa Elisabeth. The Works Committes will
the matter. view the place and take the necessary setion in
POLICS RETURNS,
The Superintendent of Police reported that the following cases hid been dealt with at the mouses assault 1; allowing pigs and settle Mixed Court since the last meeting :-8am-
to stray 1; throwing rubbish into the pablie house) 2; kidnapping 1; breach of sampan drains 1; debt 2; breach of bye-law 15 (disorderly regulations 2. Summary arrests-oreating a disturbance eto, 4; breach of new opium regu. lations 9; carrying arms 2,
SUICIDE OF A SHANGHAI DENTIST
of Shanghai, committed suicide last week by Dr. James Ward Hall, a well-known dentist shooting himself with a revolver. Dr. Ward Hall was one of the oldest American residenta of Shanghai and one who has been a prominent and most popular figure in Shanghai during Piaqua, Ohio, sud came to Shanghai in 1879 to the past thirty years. He was a native of enter into partnership with Dr. Winn, with whom he was associated until 1882. Since then he has carried on the business of dental surgeon on his own socount and had built up one of the three months ago he was bitten by a dog which most successful praotions in Shanghai. About
rabies and was accordingly destroyed. This was subsequently found to be suffering from
fact rooms to have preyed on Dr. Ward Hall's mind to such an extent that he believed he suffering from hydrophobia. He arose from his bed at 4 s.m. last Wednesday, telling his wife that he was going to telephone for his doctor.
He appears to have looked himself in kis office 'and put an end to his life with
Mr. Beavis (of Mearn. Wilkinson and Grist), who appeared for the pros soution, said he was not acquainted with the facts of the case, and appeared to ask for a remand.
He put it to his Worship, however, that the fact of the informs- tion having being sworn before Mr. Kemp should be sufficient to satisfy the Court on the point.
The remand was granted, bail being fixed in | revolver. the sum of $1,000,
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